AGD Audio Mk2 review

In response to some of the posts...I would say that Class D amps have arrived for sure but in GaN form.

As for 300B amps, I am very familiar or have owned these: AudioNote Quest and Conquest 300B amps all the way to the silver versions, Border Patrol 300Bs, Sun Audio 300B, Berning 300B Siegfried and newer offsprings (1 own 3 Berning 3ooB SET ZOTL amps), different versions of 91a/300B SET amps including one build by Thorsten Loesch with nano crystalline OPTs, Rest assured that I'm not comparing the AGD to run of the mill Chinese 300B or typical 6SN7/300B amps. I also own a Fi 421a (Don Berger) with Silver Cobalt OPTs. Other 2a3, 71a SET amp and other types of SET amps.

Hi ron1264,

What speakers do you use with your AGD Grand Vivace?

I'm also considering the AGD Andante Pre/DAC as a second simpler system

Hi antigrunge2 and milpai,

Firstly, need to correct a typo...my Fi Audio 421a is by Don Gerber, who unfortunately passed, back in 2017. A true SET genius. Sorely missed.

Don't want to sound like I'm bragging, but another important point is that when I compare the AGD Audion 2 to my 300Bs, it's with the vintage WE300B early 1950's tube. I have in my possession, engraved base WE300B (late 1930-40), early 1950's, late 1950's and 1960's and a couple of 1970-80. Any WE300B that is after 1982 (i.e with a round getter) is not as good and don't have the WE "magic", IMHO.

The thing that impresses most about the Audions is in fact, their timbre and naturalness. It's very good. Put in this way, the mids/highs are better than 300B tubes like Sophia Electric Royal Princess, PS Vanne ACME, EML, Elrog and comparable to Takatsuki 300B (I have all these tubes) in my amps/system. It just loses out slightly on air, in the mids, compared to 1950's WE300B. Nothing can touch the vintage WE300B's in the mids for timbre, naturalness and presence. And that's the reason that I decided to post my review. It's that good. For me, it's a better way to use these Audion's than to go with typical 300B amps up to $10K (the Audions cost $7.5k/pair) And bear in mind that when you throw in good 300B tubes, vintage driver tubes, rectifiers etc, a 300B SET amp can add thousands more $$. Now, I'm not saying the Audions will beat all 300B but it is up there amongst the great ones. Just for the sake of comparison, what other 300B SET amps could be better... maybe the AudioNote Japan Kegons, Wavac EC300B are the ones that come to my mind.

Of course, IMHO and in my system and YMMV etc, etc.

Note that I'm comparing on my Rethm Saadhana V4 speakers, 100dB, 8ohm, Single driver speakers (albeit with integrated subwoofers). No harshness or graininess at all. I do use external Townshend Supertweeters on my Saadhanas, When I use the Audions, I turn the supertweeters off, because you don't need them. With the WE300B amps, a low setting (2 out of 7) on the supertweeters can add a little bit more air and extension at the very top end although sometimes I also turn them off. Depends on the music and my mood.

In summary, GaN Class D, as made by AGD, can compete very well with good 300B SET amps.

I have heard the Duvel speakers. So yeah, we have similar taste in sound. Nice that you have the EC300B. You should get yourself some 1950 WE300B. As gor the new stuff, they are not quite there. Check out the PSVanne ACME. These are close yo the 1980's WE300B.

Anything after 1988 are new WE300B and not from the otiginal factory.

Hi testrun64,

Do you have the Mk2 version? If not, I highly recommend upgrading which is easy. Just get the new KT88 GanTube form AGD and replace by yourself.

I also like to drive my amps with a preamp because I have a lot of sources, DAC and Phono Preamps.

I have never tried driving the Audions directly from the DAC, The Audions are very transparent so you will surely hear differences between preamps, DAC outputs etc.